A tall Aster in my garden, name unknown

Late March can be one of the most beautiful times in the Sydney garden. Many of the blooms that contribute to the scene are various members of the daisy tribe (known botanically as the family Asteraceae). We often associate daisies with early spring, but in fact there are daisies for every season. The daisy is a flower with great appeal, having a cheerful freshness. Interestingly the apparently simple flower is in fact a composite of several much smaller flowers, the 'petals' being individual strap-shaped flowers call 'ray florets' and the centre of the bloom being comprised of smaller individual flowers called 'disc florets'. The rounded form of the blooms provides a good contrast to the many spires of flowers that are around at the moment.

Aster novae-angliae Violetta

Aster novae-angliae Violetta

New England asters (Aster novae-angliae, now known correctly as Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, ht 50-100 cm) are the classic early-autumn daisies in our gardens, though they may start to bloom in late summer. They are tough clump-forming herbaceous perennials originally from the North American prairies, which do well in Sydney gardens. They have clouds of small daisy flowers and there are a number of named cultivars in colours of pinks, cerise, white, mauve and blues. They can be propagated by dividing the clumps every few years (discarding the central core); this also keeps the clump more productive. The flowers mingle well with ornamental grasses to recreate a 'prairie' effect but also combine with other flowers in a border.

Aster sedifolius

Aster sedifolius

Aster sedifolius (now known correctly as Galatella sedifolia) is a nice perennial that begins to flower now. It has small leaves and purplish-blue daisy flowers with a prominent yellow centre. It is a vigorous plant which will spread to form a decent-sized clump. It is probably best to divide it every few years. Mine seems to be the cultivar 'Nanus' which grows to only 45cm tall; the taller ones can get to over a metre in height.

Euryops chrysanthemoides

Euryops chrysanthemoides

Shrubby Euryops chrysanthemoides (ht 1 m) begins its long period of bloom now. It has lush green ferny-looking foliage and large bright yellow daisies that will continue into winter; with regular dead-heading, it will have some flowers during the rest of the year too. It can be pruned quite hard every so often, but eventually it will need to be replaced when it becomes worn out and straggly. It is easy to grow from a cutting or one of the many seedlings it produces.

Dahlia Mt Noddy

Dahlia Mt Noddy

Other daisy flowers that contribute to the garden are ones that continue on from summer, with an admirably long period of blooming. Some of my Dahlia have not been very good this past summer for some reason but seem to have had a new lease on life now that early autumn is here. There are so many cultivars around these days in various heights and colours, and many with dark burgundy leaves, which I particularly like. These plants need conscientious deadheading to prolong the flowering period, and some occasional feeds of soluble fertiliser.

Leucanthemum x superbum

Leucanthemum x superbum

There are still flowers on my Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum superbum, ht 80 cm), a tough, herbaceous perennial that has one of the whitest flowers in the garden, which are held on stout stems. They may need staking as they can be a bit top-heavy. They associate well with ornamental grasses as well as with dark-foliage plants, such as varieties of coleus. Shasta daisies are best divided and replanted every year once they finish flowering.

Centratherum punctatum

Centratherum punctatum

Centratherum punctatum, sometimes known as Brazilian button flower, is a rather unusual short-lived perennial (ht 50 cm) that flowers on from summer and into winter. It has flowers like fluffy round purple buttons opening from quaint buds, held above interesting leaves that look like they have been cut with pinking shears. The plants seem to last for a few years and then fade away but they do self-seed and can be grown from cuttings. Note that this plant may be a potential weed in warm areas so take care not to let it escape into bushland. I have not found it to be a problem in my own Sydney garden.

Erigeron karvinskianus LA Pink (foreground)

Erigeron karvinskianus LA Pink (foreground)

Another potentially weedy daisy is Erigeron karvinskianus (ht 40 cm), a plant I have known since early childhood and would never want to be without - which seems an unlikely prospect the way it does self-seed. It has its first bloom in late winter and early spring, but if cut back in late spring, it will reflower in summer and early autumn. Sometimes known as the seaside daisy, it has a haze of tiny pink and white blooms It can provide a wide groundcover in areas where literally nothing else will grow. It has a habit of lodging itself in all sorts of nooks and crannies in the garden, between steps and in brick or stone walls. The effect is charming for those who don't mind a slightly wild look in their garden: those who prefer to keep the upper hand should probably avoid this daisy like the plague, especially if you live near bushland. In recent years, a cultivar known as 'LA Pink' has become available. It has larger, mauve-pink flowers and is said not to self-seed. It can also be cut back a few times a year like the species to rejuvenate it.

Asteraceae flowers are particularly attractive to bees, and the blooms that are out now in the garden seem to be buzzing with them at the moment. All of these plants do best in a sunny, well-drained position. Most of them (apart from the Erigeron), make good cut blooms. I would love to hear of other early-autumn daisies growing in Sydney gardens!